Do you need a boat licence in the Netherlands? Length, speed and boat type
On Dutch inland waters, whether you need a boat licence (vaarbewijs) depends mainly on how long the boat is and how fast it can go on its own engine, and for some boats on what kind of boat it is. The rules are mainly in articles 14 and 16 of the Dutch Binnenvaartbesluit (Inland Shipping Decree).
Renting a boat? Article 16 does not require a licence for a boat shorter than 15 metres that can't go faster than 20 km per hour, unless it is one of the boat types in article 14, such as a passenger vessel. Rental companies and municipalities can set their own conditions; this page covers only the national rules.
Our practice exams for the small boat licence are in Dutch only. The CBR exam itself isn't available in English, but you can take it with an interpreter (see below).
This page summarises the rules in the Dutch Binnenvaartbesluit, the Binnenvaartregeling and the Binnenvaartpolitiereglement (BPR) for Dutch inland waters, in the versions we hold. The translations of Dutch legal terms are ours, and the legal texts are in Dutch. Article 17 also exempts holders of certain foreign or Rhine qualifications; we don't summarise those. If you are unsure about your situation, read the legal text via the source links. Examenzaal is an independent provider of practice material and not part of the CBR.
Content last checked: .
Three questions to check
Is the boat moved only by muscle power, like a rowing boat or a canoe? Then you don't need a licence.
Is the boat shorter than 15 metres? Then you need a small boat licence (klein vaarbewijs) if it can go faster than 20 km per hour relative to the water on its own engine, unless it falls in one of the article 14 categories (for example a passenger vessel), which need the heavier skipper's qualification certificate (kwalificatiecertificaat schipper). What counts is what the boat can do, not how fast you are going at the time.
Is the boat 15 metres or longer? A pleasure craft (pleziervaartuig) of at least 15 and under 25 metres needs at least a small boat licence, and so does a vessel of at least 15 and under 20 metres outside the article 14 categories. Vessels of 20 metres or more (except pleasure craft under 25 metres) and the article 14 categories need the skipper's qualification certificate.
| Situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Muscle power only (rowing boat, canoe) | No licence (art. 17) |
| Shorter than 15 m and can't go faster than 20 km/h | No licence under art. 16 (but art. 14 adds a skipper's certificate for some boat types, such as passenger vessels) |
| Shorter than 15 m and can go faster than 20 km/h | Small boat licence (art. 16 para. 1 d), unless art. 14 applies |
| Pleasure craft of at least 15 and under 25 m | At least a small boat licence (art. 16 para. 1 b) |
| Vessel of 20 m or more, not a pleasure craft under 25 m | Skipper's qualification certificate (art. 14) |
Renting a boat without a licence
Whether you can rent a boat without a licence depends on the same rules: article 16 does not require one for a boat shorter than 15 metres that can't go faster than 20 km per hour, as long as it isn't one of the article 14 boat types. The rental company can tell you the boat's length, top speed and type.
Even without a licence, the person steering must be competent (bekwaam), and the BPR sets minimum ages for most motor boats and for sailing boats of 7 metres or more.
Minimum ages for steering
The BPR sets these minimum ages: 12 for a small open motor boat shorter than 7 metres that can't go faster than 13 km per hour; 16 for other small motor boats that aren't fast motor boats, for sailing boats of 7 metres or more, and for large vessels; and 18 for a fast motor boat.
In the BPR, a fast motor boat is a small vessel (under 20 metres) that can go faster than 20 km per hour relative to the water on its own engine.
Can you take the exam in English?
Not in English. On its page for people getting a recreational boating licence (vaarbewijs recreatievaart), the CBR lists the recreational boating theory exams as not available in English, but possible with an interpreter (CBR page read on 24 October 2026).
With an interpreter, you arrange the interpreter yourself: an official interpreter through one of the interpreting services the CBR has approved, booked at least 14 days before the exam. You pay the interpreter's fees on top of the regular exam fee, and the CBR treats an exam with an interpreter as an individually supervised exam. The interpreters prepare with the CBR's word list for the exam (woordenlijst), and you must also know those words in Dutch.
Which small boat licence?
If you do need a small boat licence: for rivers, canals and lakes, the small boat licence for rivers, canals and lakes is enough, the klein vaarbewijs I, usually called Klein Vaarbewijs 1. For the other inland waters, the maritime waters (wateren van maritieme aard), you need the small boat licence for all inland waters, usually called Klein Vaarbewijs 2 (that name is common usage, not the wording of the law we cite).
The maritime waters are the Westerschelde, the Oosterschelde, the Waddenzee, the Eems, the Dollard, the IJsselmeer, the IJmeer and the Markermeer (except the Gouwzee). The list does not include Amsterdam's canals.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a boat in Amsterdam without a licence?
If the boat is small and slow, usually yes. Article 16 of the Binnenvaartbesluit does not require a licence for a boat shorter than 15 metres that can't go faster than 20 km per hour on its own engine. Some boats, such as passenger vessels, need a heavier qualification (article 14) whatever their length. Check the boat's length, top speed and type with the rental company, and note the minimum ages for steering.
Does the speed I go count, or what the boat can do?
What the boat can do. Article 16 is about boats that can reach more than 20 km per hour on their own engine, so going slowly in a fast boat doesn't make the licence unnecessary.
Do I need a licence for a canoe or rowing boat?
No. Boats moved only by muscle power don't need a licence (Binnenvaartbesluit, article 17).
Can I take the Dutch boat licence exam in English?
No, but you can take it with an interpreter. The CBR lists the recreational boating theory exams as not available in English, but possible with an interpreter; you arrange and pay an official interpreter yourself, at least 14 days ahead.
Are Examenzaal's practice exams in English?
No. Our Klein Vaarbewijs 1 practice exams are in Dutch; there is no English version.
This explanation was written by Examenzaal. We use the text version of het BPR van 17 juni 2026 and het Binnenvaartbesluit van 1 juni 2025. We checked the CBR's information on 24 October 2026. Examenzaal is an independent provider of practice material. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
Practise in Dutch
Our Klein Vaarbewijs 1 practice exams are in Dutch; there is no English version. Each one has 40 questions. You see your result (pass or fail, your score and the explanation per question) after handing in, with full access: €19.95 incl. VAT, one payment, no subscription.